Cigarette collector



Jan. 22, 1935. R. E. RUNDELL CIGARETTE COLLECTOR Filed April 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f? ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1935. R. RUNDELL CIGARETTE COLLECTOR Filed April 16. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LQ' WM w 6 ATTORNEY m DE & N 01 Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES:

' CIGARETTE COLLECTOR Rupert E. Randell, Rockville Center, N. 1., as-

signor to American Machine and Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 16, 1930, Serial No. 444,818

15 Claims. (01.131-39) This invention relates to cigarette collectors for high speed cigarette machines of the continuous rod type, its main object being to collect the cut cigarettes without injuring them and to divide them in two separate rows on the delivery conveyor, thereby permitting thelatter to run at a speed less than that of the cigarette rod. Another object is to so dispose the collecting mechaanism as to make the cigarette machine considerably shorter, thereby saving valuable floor space. I

with these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in cer-- tain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then set forth in the appended claims.

In order to achieve these objects, the improved collector comprises a rotary horizontal disk running below two semi-circular walls or partitions which guide the cigarettes delivered to the disk in two paths onto two offset deflector plates from which the cigarettes fall side by side in two parallel rows onto a conveyor or collector belt, each row corresponding, to one of the said paths. The cigarettes, which leave the cutoff device of the cigarette machine in a continuous single line or row, are led into an oscillating tubular guide swinging in synchronism with the cutoff knife, so that alternate cigarettes are assorted in two lines or rows, each line of cigarettes feeding one of the aforesaid paths. This separation of the delivered cigarettes into two rows has been found necessary in high speed machines for the reason that it is impossible for an operator to take the cigargettes off. the delivery conveyor as quickly as they collect or arrive in a single row.

When making tipped or'printed cigarettes, the two-row delivery has another great advantage in sorting the cigarettes so that the tipped or printed ends of all cigarettes in the same row point in the same direction; those in one row pointing in one direction, while those in the other row point in the opposite direction. e

The cigarettes are carried tangentially by the continuously running rotary disk around a semicircle and are thrown out of tangential alignment onto a belt traveling at constant speed obliquely across the path of the cigarettes, thereby guiding the same towards and onto the sides of the above mentioned deflector plates, which are provided with means for depositing the cigarettes in the desired position on the collector or delivery belt which is transversely disposed with respect to the deflector plates.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved rotary cigarette collector;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same;

and

Fig. 3 is a front view of. the drive for the rotary disk from line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In carrying the invention into eflect, there is provided a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod machine into a pathway, a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed and forming the bottom of the pathway, means associated with said surface for retardin cigarettes forwarded thereby, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface. In the best constructions co'ntemplated, the guiding device comprises an oscillating tube acting in synchronism with the cutoff knife of the cigarette machine, and the forwarding surface comprises a rotary disk receiving the cigarettes from said guiding device. In the best constructions, also, the retarding means comprises a partition or wall against which the cigarettes are pressed by the forwarding surface. In the preferred form of constructiomgthe mechanism for receiving and collecting the cigarettes comprises a collecting conveyor and a belt conveyor which is arranged obliquely to the path of the cigarettes on the forwarding surface to receive and carry them to the collecting conveyor. There is also provided in the preferred form a deflector plate arranged to guide the cigarettes from one conveyor to the other. These various means and parts may be widely varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular machine selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many concrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the specific construction shown and described.

The cigarettes C, after leaving the cutting device of the cigarette machine, pass through a stationary tubular guide 5 into the oscillating guide tube 6 which is swung back and forth on a vertical pivot in synchronism with the cutting knife, so as to deliver alternate cigarettes on either side of a stationary wall or partition 8, thereby dividing the single line of cigarettes entering from guide tube 5 into two separate lines C1 and C2. The cigarettes so delivered by guide tube 6 fall on a rotary horizontal disk 9 loosely mounted on stud 10 supported on hearing plate 11 fastened to the machine frame 12. Disk 9 is provided 'with a guard rail 7 leading to a concentric circular web 13 integral with the disk and acting as a side guard for the inner line of cigarettes C1. The cigarettes C1 are guided by the semi-circular strip 14 which forms a continuation of the partition 8 and is carried by lugs 15 of the stationary cover 16 fixed on' stud 10 by a lock-nut 17. The outer line of cigarettes C2 is guided by the semi-circular outside wall 18 fastened to the machine frame 12. The two rows or lines of cigarettes Cland C2 are carried against the partitions 14 and 18, respectively, and pressed against the same by the centrifugal force of the rotating disk, thereby retarding the speed of the cigarettes. As\the friction of the disk on the bottom of the cigarettes is appreciably less than the friction of the parti tions on the ends of the cigarettes; the speed of the cigarettes is retarded sufliciently so that when they leave the disk it is substantially reduced with respect to the speed of the disk.

The rotary disk 9 has the downwardly projecting annular surface 19 and is driven at a constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine by friction wheel 20 slidably mounted on keys 21 in shaft 22 supported in ball bearings 23 of housing 24. Friction wheel 20 is provided with a hub 25 having a hub slot 26 engaged by rollers 27 pivoted on fork lever 28 mounted on pivot 29 carried by housing 24. The lower arm of fork lever 28 carries rollers 30 engaging in the slot 31 of adjusting stud 32 having the end portion 33 threaded into the housing 24. In order to increase or decrease the speed of the disk 9, the friction wheel 20 is brought closer to or farther away from the center of disk 9 by turning stud 32 which is then held in the desired position by the lock-lever 34 engaging with the threads on end portion 33.

The horizontal shaft 22 carries the spiral gear 35 meshing with spiral gear 36 on vertical shaft 37 supported in ball bearings 38 in the housing 24. The latter is slidably mounted on machine frame 12 and held in position by lifter bushing 39 having adjusting range 40 threaded thereon resting against supporting bushing 41 of the stationary housing 42. The lower end of shaft 37 is provided with a flat end projection 43 fitting into a corresponding end-slot of vertical shaft 44 supported in ball bearings 45 of the stationary housing 42. Shaft 44 carries spiral gear 46 meshing with spiral gear 47 mounted on the main drive shaft 48 of the collector which runs continuously at constant speed. In case the friction wheel 20 is worn and adjustment is desired, the slidable housing 24 can be moved upward by turning the djusting ring 40.

The disk 9 delivers the cigarettes C1 and C2 upon the continuously running belt conveyor 49 which is set at an oblique angle with respect to the path of the cigarettes so as to overcome the centrifugal force of cigarettes and carry them against the deflectors 50 and 51 which are provided with curved side plates 52 and 53, respectively, which guide the cigarettes in parallel arrangement onto the continuously running collecting conveyor 54 after their forward motion has been stopped by the stationary guide rails 55 and 56 attached to the deflectors 50 and 51, respectively, the latter being mounted on the machine frame. 11 plate 57 attached to deflector 51 guides the cigarettes 01 after leaving belt conveyor 49, and an adjustable guard rail 58 prevents cigarettes of the outer row C: from falling off the collecting conveyor 54.

The oblique belt conveyor 49 is driven by roller 59 and runs over idler roller 60 mounted on shaft 61 supported by the bracket 62 which is carried on pivot 63 and thus permits the running angle and speed of belt conveyor 49 to be adjusted. Roller 59 is mounted on shaft 64 carrying friction roller 65 in engagement with and operated by the rotary disk 9. Shaft 64 is supported by bearing bars 66 mounted on pivoted bracket 62. The collecting conveyor 54 is driven from pulley 67 mounted on shaft 68 having the pulley 69 operated through belt 70 from the main drive of the cigarette machine, or the shaft 68 may be geared to the main drive. Since the belt conveyor 49 is driven directly from the rotary disk 9, it, accordingly, has the same constant linear speed as the portion of the disk engaged by the friction roller 65, while the action of the partitions, comprising the retarding means, has reduced the speed of the cigarettes on the disk as described above. Upon engaging the belt conveyor 49, the cigarettes are accelerated and propelled with a force suflicient to throw them against the guard rails 55 and 56, thereby insuring that they will be guided to the portions of the collecting conveyor 54 intended to receive them.

By this means the cigarettes will be fed into proper position on the conveyor belt 54, regardless of variations in the weight and size of the cigarettes and the speed of the cigarette machine.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, means for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface.

2. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, means for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, and mechanism for receiving and collecting from said forwarding surface, said surface being frictionally driven.

3. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forward ing surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, means for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said surface being frictionally driven by an adjustable friction wheel.

4. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, means for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said surface including. a horizontal rotary disk.

5. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, means for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from warding surface said forwarding surface, said surface including a horizontal rotary disk provided with an integral side guard for the cigarettes.

6. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and formin the bottom of said pathway, means associated with said surface for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said means including a wall or partition disposed in operative relation with respect to the forwarding surface to engage the cigarettes carried by said surface.

7. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, means associated with said surface for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said forwarding surface including a rotary disk for supporting the cigarettes and said means including a curved partition disposed in operative relation to the disk to engage the cigarettes carried by said disk.

8. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, means for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said mechanism including a conveyor arranged to receive cigarettes from the forwarding surface.

9. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, means for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said mechanism including a collecting conveyor and a belt conveyor arranged to receive cigarettes from the forwarding surface and carry them to the collecting conveyor.

10. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the'bottom of said pathway, means for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said mechanism includinga conveyor obliquely disposed with respect to the path of the cigarettes on the forand arranged toreceive cigarettes therefrom.

11. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving .at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, means for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said mechanism including a collecting conveyor, a belt conveyor arranged to receive cigarettes from the forwarding surface and carry them to the collecting conveyor, and a deflector plate arranged to guide the cigarettes from the belt conveyor to the collecting conveyor.

12. The combination with a device for guiding continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a' cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, means for retarding cigarettes forwarded thereby, mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said mechanism including a collecting conveyor, a belt conveyor arranged to receive cigarettes from the forwarding surface and.

carry them to the collecting conveyor, and a deflector plate arranged to guide the cigarettes from the belt conveyor to the collecting conveyor and provided with a guide rail to stop the motion of the cigarettes imparted by the belt conveyor.

13. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said mechanism including a collecting conveyor and a belt conveyor arranged to receive cigarettes from the forwarding surface and carry them to the collecting conveyor.

14. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the bottom of said pathway, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said mechanism including a conveyor obliquely disposed with respect to the path of the cigarettes on the forwarding surface and arranged to receive cigarettes therefrom.

15. The combination with a device for guiding cigarettes delivered by a continuous rod cigarette machine into a pathway, of a cigarette forwarding surface moving at constant speed regardless of the speed of the cigarette machine and forming the-bottom of said pathway, and mechanism for receiving and collecting cigarettes from said forwarding surface, said mechanism including a collecting conveyor, a belt conveyor arranged to receive cigarettes from the forwarding surface and carry them to the collecting conveyor, and a deflector plate arranged to guide the cigarettes from the belt conveyor to the collecting conveyor.

RUPERT E. RUNDELL. 

